There will be 17 Members of Parliament and Peers taking part in this year’s TCS London Marathon – but they will have to go some to beat the long-standing fastest time for a sitting MP.
Members from across the political spectrum are set to lace up their running shoes – 10 Labour MPs will be on the start line, alongside five Conservatives, and two from the Liberal Democrats.
Clear majority for Labour
From this year’s cohort, 10 will be making their debuts as MPs for the 45th edition of the event, six of whom belong to Labour: Michael Shanks (Rutherglen), John Slinger (Rugby), Chris Curtis (Milton Keynes North), Lloyd Hatton (South Dorset), Patrick Hurley (Southport), and Josh Fenton-Glynn (Calder Valley).
Robert Jenrick (Newark), the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, is among the other debutants attempting the 26.2-mile course for the very first time as MPs, along with fellow Conservative MPs Harriet Cross (Gordon and Buchan), and Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire), as well as Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon (Harrogate and Knaresborough).
The most experienced is Alex Norris (Lab (Co-op), Nottingham North and Kimberley) who will be participating in his fourth London Marathon as an MP.
Lord James Bethell, the only Peer participating this year, returns for his third consecutive TCS London Marathon.
What is the quickest time by an MP?
Of course it’s all about the taking part and hopefully finishing the 26.2 miles but the fastest London Marathon time ever recorded by a sitting male MP dates back to 1985 and just the fifth edition of the race.
That was achieved by Matthew Parris (Con, Derbyshire West) when he clocked a super-impressive 2:32:57.
The fastest time by a sitting female MP was set by Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson in 2011 when she finished in 3:57:00.
Chancellor lined up in 2024
Having run 12 apiece, Alun Cairns and Edward Timpson jointly hold the men’s record for the highest number of London Marathons completed as an MP.
Cat Smith (Lab, Lancaster and Wyre) is set to take part in her third London Marathon this year, which matches Ruth Cadbury’s record for the most participations in the event as a female MP.
The number of MPs taking part is three down on 12 months ago when 20 finished the event.
The most high profile was Chancellor Jeremy Hunt but he wasn’t the quickest.
That honour went to Conservative peer Lord Graham Evans who completed the course in 3:23:35.
The list in full
MPs
Alex Norris – (Labour (Co-op) MP for Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Andrew Bowie – (Scottish Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Blake Stephenson – (Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire)
Cat Smith – (Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre)
Chris Curtis – (Labour MP for Milton Keynes North)
Chris Evans – (Labour Co-op MP for Caerphilly)
David Simmonds – (Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Harriet Cross – (Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan)
John Slinger – (Labour MP for Rugby)
Josh Fenton-Glynn – (Labour MP for Calder Valley)
Lloyd Hatton – (Labour MP for South Dorset)
Michael Shanks – (Scottish Labour MP for Rutherglen)
Patrick Hurley – (Labour MP for Southport)
Robert Jenrick – (Conservative MP for Newark)
Tim Farron – (Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Tom Gordon – (Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Peers
Lord James Bethell (Con, 5th Baron Bethell)
